Museum of Virreinal Art Santa Teresa, Arequipa (must see)

The Museum of Virreinal Art Santa Teresa is located within the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites of San José and Santa Teresa, founded in 1710. Built from sillar, the white volcanic stone, the monastery reflects the elegance and durability of colonial architecture. For centuries, it served as a cloistered space of prayer and devotion, and since 2005, it has also opened part of its grounds to the public, offering a rare opportunity to explore both history and art in a living monastic setting.

The museum preserves an outstanding collection of colonial-era works, spanning the 16th to 19th centuries. Highlights include paintings from the Cusco School, whose vivid colors and hybrid symbolism combine European artistic traditions with Andean elements. Visitors will also find intricately carved wooden altarpieces, silver objects, devotional artifacts, and items from daily religious life that reveal the cultural richness of the Viceroyalty period. Notable displays include the Cloister of the Offices with its peaceful garden and alabaster basin, and the Room of the Nativity and the Holy Family, which contains a rare Nativity Chest from 1730.

One of the museum’s most distinctive aspects is its “Living Museum” approach. Certain areas remain in use as they have been for over three centuries, giving visitors a glimpse of monastic routines that continue alongside the preserved art. Walking through its serene chapels, cloisters, and courtyards, guests encounter an atmosphere that deepens the meaning of the artworks themselves. The Museum of Virreinal Art Santa Teresa thus stands not only as a repository of colonial treasures but also as a living reminder of faith, artistry, and continuity in the heart of Arequipa.